Chilly With Chuck

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, completed his eighth 62-county tour this morning in Rensselaer County with a bone-chilling outdoor hour-long press conference outside the HQ of the 42nd Infantry “Rainbow” Division of the National Guard.Â

The original plan was to hold the event inside, but the guard was evidently not amenable to having a political press conference take place on its property.

But the senior senator is not one to let a little technicality get in the way of a good press conference.Â Â

Thus, with a tank and a host of bundled-up vets as a backdrop, Schumer stood behind a lectern set up on the grassy strip between Glenmore Road in North Greenbush and the 42nd Division’s parking lot.

Schumer, who wasn’t wearing a top coat (why is it that so many male pols forgo outerwear when it’s cold?), reiterated his pledge to use his newfound clout in D.C.Â to deliver back home.

“What matters is I intend to use every drop (of power) I’ve gotten to help New York, that’s what’s significant today,” he said.

He also insisted that his new responsibilities won’t put a dent in his traveling.

“Right here, I’m making a promise that I’ll visit every county next year as well,” Schumer said.

Asked about the Democrats’ tenuous hold on the U.S. Senate, given Sen. Tim Johnson’s recent brain surgery, Schumer said he had spoken last night to the South Dakota Democrats’ doctors and received word that he is making “a very strong recovery.”

“In fact, they think right now that there’s a very good chance that he could get all or most all of his functions back…the blood has cleared from his head, and he’s a strong man. Incidentally, his son served in Iraq. We’re all praying for his rapid recovery, and every day we get more and more positive news.”

Schumer refused to “get into the medical details,” and so would not discuss whether Johnson is lucid or any other specifics regarding his health. He did say that Johnson’s absence won’t make a difference when it comes to voting: “A 50-to-49 vote carries the Senate as well as a 51-49 vote.”

On an issue closer to home, Schumer refused discuss his views on the appropriate fate of state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, saying he plans to wait and see what action Albany County DA David Soares takes.

Before the election, Schumer said he planned to vote for Hevesi, noting that there was “no viable alternative” and that the comptroller had “proved his competance” when it came to management of the state pension fund.

While in Renssealer, the senator said he plans to introduce legislation next year that will ensure reservists and members of the National Guard get the same benefits and medicalÂ care as activeÂ members of the military.

He noted that current disparities between these two groups include lower education benefits for non-active members, lack of reimbursement for travel costs and a higher rate of rejection for disability claims.

Asked whether he felt the level of troops should be increased in Iraq, Schumer said he would only support a temporary increase if the Levin amendment call to make 2007 a “transition year” was also adehered to.

He also saidÂ more training of Iraqi soldiers is a “good idea so they can take over this civil war aspect of what’s going on in Iraq.” But, he cautioned, the question of how to protect U.S. soldiers embedded with the Iraqi army needs to be answered, as does the issue of why training efforts to date haven’t been as successful as originally hoped.